Golf Shoe Cleat

ABSTRACT

A plastic cleat ( 10 ) for a golf shoe is disclosed, including a cleat body (3), a plurality of flexible protrusions ( 1 ) and rigid protrusions ( 2 ) extending from the cleat body ( 3 ). The flexible protrusions ( 1 ) and rigid protrusions ( 2 ) provide good grips on grass without damaging the grass. The flexible protrusions ( 1 ) bend outwardly on a hard surface, when the rigid protrusions ( 2 ) chiefly support weight. The cleat ( 10 ) can be economically manufactured by “forced extraction molding” utilizing the shape rebounding nature of half hardened plastic materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention generally relates to a cleat. More particularly,this invention relates to a cleat to be used on golf shoes. Thisinvention also relates to a method for manufacturing plastic golf shoecleats.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Pushpin type metallic spikes or cleats are conventionally used ongolf shoes. Some are integrally provided and some are detachablyprovided on golf shoe soles. Such metallic spikes generally providesatisfactory grips or bites on grass or turf on the golf courses evenwhen the grass or turf is wet.

[0005] Good grips and bites are provided because relatively longmetallic spikes penetrate deep through grass into the ground beneath thegrass, which is often damaging to the grass by the roots. The golfingground will also get considerably roughened by metallic spikes. Thisproblem is multiplied on putting greens. Subsequent players are oftentroubled by roughened putting greens. In addition, sharp metallic spikescan damage floor tiles or carpets of clubhouses.

[0006] Sharp pushpin type metallic spikes are not very comfortable towalk on, either, especially on hard surfaces such as floors orpavements.

[0007] Metallic spikes do not provide stability to wearers due mainly toa limited number of contact points with grounds and hardness of thecontact points that contact grounds. Wearers of spiked shoes may easilylose body balance on hard surfaces particularly when the surfaces arewet or slippery. Metallic spikes may hurt wearers' feet, knees or waistsas the shocks from the physical contacts between the metallic spikes andhard grounds can be directly transmitted to the wearers' feet becausemetallic spikes do not absorb such shocks.

[0008] In order to solve or alleviate the foregoing problems which areintrinsic to metallic spikes, nonmetallic types of spikes or cleats havebeen developed. They are mostly manufactured of plastic materials. Suchplastic cleats have protrusions which are generally shorter thanconventional metallic spikes and provide wearers with improved comfortsince such cleats absorb shocks from hard surfaces to a certain degree.They also provide improved stability because they are shorter and alarger number of contact points are provided on shoe soles than withconventional metallic spikes. Plastic cleats do not damage turf orfloors or carpets of clubhouses, unlike metallic spikes.

[0009] However, such conventional plastic cleats do not generallyprovide as good grips or bites on grass or turf as metallic spikes do.Providing good grips on grass is what is expected of cleats and spikes.Conventional plastic cleats often fail to provide grips on wet grass,withered grass or slopes.

[0010] JP Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-262401 teaches a plasticcleat 30, which is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings which areattached to this specification. This conventional plastic cleat 30includes a threaded shaft 31 and a plurality of legs 32 as shown. Thethreaded shaft 31 is screwed into a threaded receptacle provided on agolf shoe sole. The legs 32 are made structurally flexible.

[0011] A plurality of plastic cleats 30 are secured on a shoe sole. Theyhardly damage grass or floors or carpets of clubhouses. However, sincethe legs 32 cannot effectively sustain wearers' weights due to theintrinsic weakness generated from the design features thereof, the legs32 easily open outwardly as shown in FIG. 14 and lose grips on turf.Wearers do not necessarily get comfortable feelings on hard surfacesbecause of the “unique softness” the legs 32 provide as they aredeformed. The cleats 30 do not provide good abrasion resistance, either,and they wear out rapidly. It may be possible to provide the legs 32with more rigidity, however, then the cleats 30 will damage puttinggreens, more or less.

[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved cleat for golf shoes that is abrasion resistant and durable.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide animproved cleat for golf shoes that provides good grips and bites ongrass.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide animproved cleat for golf shoes that can effectively absorb physicalshocks from hard surfaces and is excellent in stability on hardsurfaces.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide animproved cleat that does not damage turf or floors of clubhouses.

[0016] It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved cleat for golf shoes that indicates progress of abrasion.

[0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aneconomical method of manufacture of such improved cleats.

[0018] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following descriptions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention is summarized here utilizing the claimedfeatures that accompany this specification with the aim of facilitatingthe readers' easy understanding of the present invention.

[0020] An important aspect of the present invention is that a cleat ofthe invention which is advantageously made of a plastic materialcomprises a plurality of flexible protrusions and a plurality of rigidprotrusions, wherein the flexible protrusions are generally providedlonger than the rigid protrusions. Generally a plurality of suchflexible protrusions and rigid protrusions are provided on a cleat alongthe periphery of the cleat.

[0021] A cleat 10 according to a claim includes a cleat body 3 fromwhich a plurality of flexible protrusions 1 and a plurality of rigidprotrusions 2 extend downwardly and generally obliquely outwardly. It isto be noted that the direction “downward” indicates a downward directionof the accompanying drawings, which is a direction toward grass or aground when the cleat is in use.

[0022] The flexible protrusion 1 is “flexible”, however, it is sodesigned that it hardly bends on grass or turf and penetrates into grassand provides an excellent grip, but bends outwardly or opens on a hardsurface such as a pavement and effectively absorbs shocks from the hardsurface so as to alleviate potential physical damages.

[0023] The rigid protrusion 2 is generally made somewhat shorter thanthe flexible protrusion 1. The rigid protrusion 2 as its name suggestsis so made that it does not bend even on a hard surface. When theflexible protrusions 1 bend and open further outwardly, decreasing theirvertical height and their weight supporting power, the rigid protrusions2 support the remaining weight resting thereon. It is to be noted thatthe bent flexible protrusions 1 still support part of the weight.

[0024] The rigid protrusions 2 assist in providing good grips and biteson grass or turf by pressing grass hard from above. The rigidprotrusions 2 prevent excessive deformation and abrasion of the flexibleprotrusions 1 on a hard surface.

[0025] The cleat body 3 is secured onto a golf shoe sole with securingmeans 4. The overall configuration of the cleat body 3 may be a circle,oval, triangle, square or any other polygonal shape. It is also possibleto integrally and directly provide a plurality of cleats 10 or cleatbodies 3 (without securing means 4) on a shoe sole.

[0026] The cleat 10 may be made of a synthetic rubber material, ABSmaterial, polycarbonate material, nylon material or a polyurethanematerial or any other appropriate plastic material or non-plasticmaterial. Polyurethane materials are preferred materials.

[0027] It may be possible to provide each of the cleat body 3, flexibleprotrusion 1 and rigid protrusion 2 with different plastic materials toprovide a compound-type cleat 10. The flexible protrusion 1 may be madeof a flexible material and the rigid protrusion 2 may be made of a rigidmaterial. Appropriate soft metallic materials or ceramic materials maybe utilized, at least partially.

[0028] In an example cleat 10, four flexible protrusions 1 and fourrigid protrusions 2 are provided alternately along the periphery of thecleat body 3.

[0029] It is possible to control directions of grips or bites byappropriately selecting the protrusion angles and/or shapes and/ordimensions and/or number of the flexible protrusions 1 and the rigidprotrusions 2. For example, gripping power may be provided relativelylarger in the directions “A” and relatively smaller in the directions“B” shown in FIG. 5.

[0030] Excellent directional grips and bites on turf or grass can beprovided with a “small” number of cleats 10 by most appropriatelypositioning and orienting such cleats 10 on a shoe sole.

[0031] The number of flexible protrusions 1 and that of rigidprotrusions 2 to be used on a single cleat 10 can be different from eachother. For example, two flexible protrusions 1 may be provided betweentwo rigid protrusions 2. It is to be noted that the wording “alternate”arrangement of the flexible protrusions 1 and the rigid protrusions 2 asused in this specification including the attached claims includesarrangements of the protrusions 1 and 2 which are different from eachother in number.

[0032] The dimensions, angles, shapes, hardness or softness, number andpositioning and orientation as well as materials of the protrusions 1and 2 are factors to be adequately selected in accordance with expectedperformances and properties of the cleat 10.

[0033] The flexible protrusions 1 may be arranged on a cleat body 3 atdifferent intervals. The rigid protrusions 2 may also be arranged on acleat body 3 at different intervals among flexible protrusions 1.

[0034] The cleat 10 provides good grips and bites on turf, where neitherflexible protrusions 1 nor rigid protrusions 2 bend. Both flexible andrigid protrusions 1 and 2 adequately tangle with grass blades andstalks. The cleat 10 stably supports weight resting thereon on a hardsurface with the bent flexible protrusions 1 and the rigid protrusions2.

[0035] A cleat 10 according to another claim has its flexibleprotrusions 1 widely opened outwardly or rather radially, providinglarger voids between the flexible protrusions 1 and the rigidprotrusions 2 than the corresponding voids of the cleat according to theforegoing claim. The large voids effectively prevent their stuffing withmud or grass pieces. Such flexible protrusions 1 will more easily bendoutwardly on a hard surface in use.

[0036] Those “radially” opened flexible protrusions 1 provide improvedcushioning effects on hard surfaces as well as securely provide gripsand bites on turf because the voids between the flexible protrusions 1and the rigid protrusions 2 hardly get stuffed with mud or grass pieces.

[0037] A cleat 10 according to another claim is made detachable from ashoe sole, facilitating renewal of worn-out cleats 10.

[0038] In a cleat 10 according to yet another claim, securing means 4provides the attachment and detachment of the cleat of the above claimonto and from a shoe sole.

[0039] The securing means 4 may comprise engagement protrusions 7 asshown in FIG. 2 or thread means as shown in FIG. 3. Any appropriateconventional engagement means can be equally utilized. A metallic pinmay be incorporated in the securing means 4 for reinforcement of thesecuring means 4 and its engagement. The cleat 10 can be easily attachedon and detached from a shoe sole for replacement with a new one.

[0040] A cleat 10 according to another claim additionally includes acentral protrusion 5 on the bottom side of the cleat body 3, which isgenerally as tall as the rigid protrusion 2 or slightly shorter. Thecentral protrusion 5 supports weight on hard surfaces when the rigidprotrusions 2 are worn out. The central protrusion 5 will provideimproved stability on hard surfaces. However, use of the centralprotrusion 5 is optionally decided according to the present invention.

[0041] Each rigid protrusion 2 of the cleat 10 according to anotherclaim has a through groove 6 on its free end portion as an indicator ofthe degree of wear of the rigid protrusions 2, which functions like“slip marks” of car tires. Such grooves 6 provide additional grips andbites on grass as well.

[0042] A plastic cleat 10 according to another claim has its flexibleprotrusions 1 and rigid protrusions 2 opened outwardly to a degreewithin the limit that facilitates utilization of “forced extractionmolding” of the present invention. “Forced extraction molding” as usedherein signifies “forced push out” of an injected plastic material froman injection mold before the injected material completely hardens in themold. The processes are schematically depicted in FIG. 7. The injectionmold has an extraction opening which is “narrower” than the widestportion of the designed cleat.

[0043] The forced extraction molding as used herein can only beperformed within the limit that the forcedly extracted material from themold through the narrow opening can rebound and exactly return to itsdesigned shape before it completely hardens outside the mold. It is notpossible to push a designed material out of a mold having a “narrow”extraction opening after the injected material has completely hardenedwithin the mold.

[0044] The extracted material or cleat 10 eventually rebounds andreturns to its designed shape and hardens exactly as designed. If thedifference in size between the narrow extraction opening and the widestinternal portion of a mold is excessive, the forced extraction moldingof the present invention cannot be adequately utilized.

[0045] The cleat 10 is provided with comparatively large voids betweenits protrusions 1 and 2 so as to facilitate utilization of “forcedextraction molding” of the present invention. The flexible protrusions 1and rigid protrusions 2 are “wide” apart. Therefore, the flexibleprotrusions 1 and the rigid protrusions 2 can easily “close in” ordeform themselves inwardly and can slip through the small extractionopening of the mold when they are half hardened. The protrusions 1 and 2of the cleat 10 can therefore be made of a relatively more rigidmaterial.

[0046] A method for producing a plastic cleat 10 for golf shoesaccording to the present invention is claimed, comprising preparing anappropriate mold having a “narrow” extraction opening for anappropriately designed cleat 10 including a cleat body 3 and a pluralityof flexible protrusions 1 and rigid protrusions 2 generally alternatelyprovided on the cleat body 3 along its periphery. The flexibleprotrusions 1 are opened outwardly such that they can regain theirdesigned overall configurations after “forced extraction” from the mold.An appropriate plastic material is injected into the mold and is let toget half hardened in the mold. The material is then forcedly pushed withpin means out of the mold through the narrow opening and is left outsidethe mold to completely get hardened, when the extracted materialnaturally rebounds and regains the originally designed shape.

[0047] The “forced extraction” steps may be more easily conducted ifthere are provided large voids between the flexible protrusions 1 andthe rigid protrusions 2. Through grooves 6 will further assist theforced extraction.

[0048] The angle of the flexible protrusion 1 relative to a horizontalplane (or a shoe sole) is adequately between 45 and 90 degrees. An angleof about 67 degrees (66.9 to be exact) is a preferred angle.

[0049] An advantage of “forced extraction molding” is that this methodsufficiently lowers production costs by reducing the costs for preparingmolds because such molds can be simply designed and made easily as willbe readily appreciated by persons skilled in the molding art. Themolding processes are also simple.

[0050] Tests and experience show that the cleats 10 of the presentinvention are capable of providing grips and bites on grass or turf thatare comparable to conventional metallic spikes when an appropriatenumber of the cleats 10 are fixedly mounted on a shoe sole.

[0051] The tests were carried out on an artificial turf by measuringrequired horizontal forces to move a plurality of cleats 10 preparedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and conventionalmetallic spikes, both of which were respectively mounted on the bottomside of heavy metallic plates.

[0052] Abrasion tests were also carried out, where cleats 10 madeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and conventionalplastic cleats were placed on a sandpaper and each was loaded with aweight (1 kg) and drawn in a shape of “8” on the sandpaper. The testresults showed that the cleats 10 of the present invention are moreresistant to abrasion than the conventional plastic cleats.

[0053] The cleats of the present invention do not damage grass orfloors, provide good abrasion resistance and good grips, adequatelyabsorb physical shocks from hard surfaces, and provide good stability onhard surfaces.

[0054] The cleats of the present invention can be easily mass-producedfrom a plastic material at low costs as they can be produced utilizingthe “forced extraction molding” which utilizes economical molds andprocessing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleat 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cleat 10 shown in FIG. 1;

[0057]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a cleat 10 having threadedsecuring means 4 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0058]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cleat 10 shown in FIG. 2,showing an example of deformation;

[0059]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cleat 10 shown in FIG. 1;

[0060]FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing an exemplary utilization of thecleat 10 of FIG. 1 on shoe soles;

[0061]FIG. 7 shows manufacturing processes of cleats 10 according to“forced extraction molding” of the present invention;

[0062]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cleat 10 according to anotherembodiment (No. 2) of the present invention;

[0063]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cleat 10 according to anotherembodiment (No. 3) of the present invention;

[0064]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cleat 10 according to yetanother embodiment (No. 4) of the present invention;

[0065]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cleat 10 according to stillanother embodiment (No. 5) of the present invention;

[0066]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a conventional plasticcleat;

[0067]FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the conventional plasticcleat shown in FIG. 12; and

[0068]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the conventional plasticcleat of FIG. 13 showing an example of deformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0069] In FIG. 1 is shown a plastic cleat 10 according to an embodiment(No. 1) of the present invention. The cleat 10 is integrally injectionmolded with a polyurethane material by “forced extraction molding” ofthe present invention. The cleat 10 comprises a circular cleat body 3,securing means 4, four flexible protrusions 1 and four rigid protrusions2. Protrusions 1 and 2 are alternately provided on the periphery of thecleat body 3. The cleat 10 further comprises a circular centralprotrusion 5 provided on the cleat body 3.

[0070] It is to be noted that it is within the scope of the presentinvention to provide more flexible protrusions 1 than rigid protrusions2 on a cleat body 3 and arrange them “alternately” on the cleat body 3meaning more than one flexible protrusions 1 can be arranged between anytwo rigid protrusions, or less flexible protrusions than rigidprotrusions 2 and arrange them “alternately”, meaning at least one pairof adjacent rigid protrusions 2 do not flank any flexible protrusion 1.

[0071] It is to be additionally noted that while a number of flexibleprotrusions 1 and a number of rigid protrusions 2 may be advantageouslyarranged along the periphery of a cleat 3, it is within the purview ofthe present invention to provide the protrusions 1 and 2 off theperiphery of the cleat body 3.

[0072] The cleat 10 is to be secured at a receptacle (not shown) of ashoe sole (not shown) by means of the securing means 4 having threeengagement protrusions 7. In this embodiment, the securing means 4 is ashort column-like protrusion and the engagement protrusions 7 engagecorresponding receptacle grooves (not shown) provided inside thereceptacle. There are provided two engagement indentations 8 on thebottom side of the cleat body 3 to be utilized in the engagement step.Handle means (not shown) engages with the engagement indentations 8 andturns the cleat 10 on the receptacle so that the engagement protrusions7 are firmly secured in the reception. The securing means 4 can bemetallically reinforced.

[0073] Each flexible protrusion 1 is provided such that the flexibleprotrusion 1 substantially retains its shape on grass but bendsoutwardly on a hard surface to substantially become even in verticalheight with the rigid protrusion 2.

[0074] The rigid protrusion 2 is shorter and thicker, thus moreresistant to deformation, than the flexible protrusion 1. The rigidprotrusions 2 hold weight resting thereon when the flexible protrusions1 are deformed and decrease their vertical height (while supporting partof the weight). Each rigid protrusion 2 has a through groove 6 extendingin a diametrical direction, which can indicate appropriate replacementtime.

[0075] The central protrusion 5 has a height roughly commensurate withthe height of the deepest point of the through groove 6 (as measuredfrom the bottom side of the cleat body 3).

[0076] The flexible protrusions 1 penetrate through grass or turf whilethe rigid protrusions 2 press the grass hard from above. The protrusions1 and 2 both adequately tangle with the grass blades and stalks andprovide good grips and bites. The grass will not be damaged because thepenetration by the flexible protrusions 1 into the ground under thegrass is kept minimum, if any. Carpets will not be damaged, either.

[0077] There are wide voids provided between the flexible protrusions 1and rigid protrusions 2, adequately preventing clogging with cut grassblades or mud. Thus, satisfactory grips or bites are constantly andsecurely provided.

[0078] The flexible protrusions 1 will provide good cushioning effectson hard surfaces. When used on a hard surface, the flexible protrusions1 gently and comfortably absorb physical shocks from the hard surface.Such cleats 10 will provide stability on a hard surface as well becausethere are provided an adequate number of contact points with the hardsurface.

[0079] In FIG. 8 is shown a plastic cleat 10 according to anotherembodiment (No. 2) of the present invention. The cleat 10 is integrallyprovided from a polyurethane material by “forced extraction molding.”The cleat 10 comprises around cleat body 3, securing means 4 (notshown), three flexible protrusions 1 and three rigid protrusions 2.Protrusions 1 and 2 are alternately provided on the periphery of thecleat body 3. The cleat 10 further comprises a central protrusion 5.

[0080] The cleat 10 can be secured to a receptacle (not shown) of a shoesole (not shown) by means of the securing means 4 having engagementprotrusions 7 (not shown) just as described in connection with theforegoing embodiment. There are also provided two engagementindentations 8 on the bottom side of the cleat body 3. Handle means (notshown) engages the engagement indentations 8 and is turned so that theengagement protrusions 7 firmly engage the receptacle. The securingmeans 4 is reinforced with metallic means.

[0081] The securing means 4 may be receptacle means to receiveprotrusion means provided on a shoe sole, and the engagement protrusions7 may be engagement receptacle means to receive engagement protrusionsprovided on the protrusion means.

[0082] The flexible protrusion 1 is designed such that the flexibleprotrusion 1 does not bend on grass or turf but bends outwardly on ahard surface to become practically even in vertical height with therigid protrusion 2.

[0083] The rigid protrusion 2 is designed shorter and thicker, thus moreresistant to deformation, than the flexible protrusion 1. The rigidprotrusions 2 are capable of holding weight resting thereon on a hardsurface without bending. Each rigid protrusion 2 in this embodiment hasa through groove 6 extending in a diametrical direction, which canindicate appropriate time for replacement of the cleat 10.

[0084] The central protrusion 5 has a height roughly commensurate withthe vertical height of the deepest point of the through groove 6.

[0085] The flexible protrusions 1 penetrate through grass and the rigidprotrusions 2 press grass hard from above. The protrusions 1 and 2effectively tangle with grass blades and stalks and provide good gripsand bites on the grass. The grass will not be damaged because thepenetration by the flexible protrusions 1 into the ground under thegrass is kept minimum, if any.

[0086] There are larger voids created between the flexible protrusions 1and the rigid protrusions 2 than the corresponding voids of the previousembodiment, more effectively preventing clogging with cut grass bladesor mud.

[0087] Production of this type of plastic cleat 10 is easier than theproduction of the foregoing type of cleat because the wider voidsbetween the protrusions 1 and 2 of this cleat 10 facilitate easierextraction of an injected material from a mold through its “narrow”extraction opening.

[0088] In FIG. 9 is shown another embodiment (No. 3) of plastic cleat10, comprising a round cleat body 3 having securing means 4 (not shown)with engagement protrusions 7 (not shown), four flexible protrusions 1and four rigid protrusions 2 as well as a central protrusion 5. Thecleat 10 is manufactured from a polyurethane material by “forcedextraction molding.”

[0089] The features of the securing means 4 may be identical with thoseof the previous cleats 10. It is equally possible to utilize anothertype of securing means 4. Two engagement indentations 8 are alsoprovided to be used for securing the cleat 10 onto a shoe sole (notshown). The securing means 4 is reinforced with a metallic pin (notshown).

[0090] Both flexible protrusions 1 and rigid protrusions 2 extenddownwardly and outwardly at 66.9 degrees with a horizontal plane. Eachflexible protrusion 1 is provided with two through grooves 6 in thisembodiment, while the rigid protrusions 2 are provided with none. Thesethrough grooves 6 will tangle with grass blades and stalks andadditionally provide grips on grass.

[0091] The rigid protrusions 2 are shorter than the flexible protrusionsI and the height of the central protrusion 5 is provided roughly evenwith that of the deepest portions of the through grooves 6.

[0092] The plastic cleat 10 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with threeflexible protrusions 1 and three rigid protrusions 2. Through grooves 6are provided on the rigid protrusions 2. The top portions of the voidscontacting the bottom side of the cleat body 3 are made “flat” in thisembodiment (No. 4).

[0093] In order to provide additional grips and bites on grass, ribs Rare provided stretching between the flexible protrusions 1 and thecentral protrusion 5 and between the rigid protrusions 2 and the centralprotrusion 5, which also provide further rigidity to the cleat 10.

[0094] The plastic cleat 10 shown in FIG. 11 is also provided with ribsR. The ribs R in this embodiment (No. 5) stretch across the bottom sideof the cleat body 3 between the flexible protrusions 1 as shown. Thereis not provided a central protrusion 5 here. The ribs R additionallyprovide grips and bites on grass as well as reinforcement to the cleat10.

[0095] This invention has been described in connection with variousembodiments. It is to be understood that various modifications andchanges to the embodiments will occur to persons skilled in the art. Forexample, “central protrusion 5” can be eliminated from the embodiments(No. 2-4) or the number of “flexible protrusions 1” and/or “rigidprotrusions 2” can be changed.

[0096] Those modifications and changes should fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleat for a golf shoe comprising: a cleat body;a plurality of flexible protrusions provided on a side of said cleatbody; and a plurality of rigid protrusions provided on said side of saidcleat body, wherein said rigid protrusions are shorter than saidflexible protrusions, and said flexible protrusions and said rigidprotrusions are provided alternately.
 2. A cleat for a golf shoecomprising: a cleat body; a plurality of flexible protrusions providedon a side of said cleat body, said flexible protrusions obliquelyextending outwardly; and a plurality of rigid protrusions provided onsaid side of said cleat body, said rigid protrusions being shorter thansaid flexible protrusions, wherein said flexible protrusions and saidrigid protrusions are provided alternately, each void created betweensaid flexible protrusions and said rigid protrusions being sufficientlylarge so as to prevent its getting stuffed with mud, whereby said rigidprotrusions chiefly support weight resting on said cleat when saidflexible protrusions have bent outwardly on a hard surface.
 3. A cleatfor a golf shoe comprising: a cleat body to be detachably receivedwithin receptacle means provided on a golf shoe sole; a plurality offlexible protrusions provided on a side of said cleat body; and aplurality of rigid protrusions provided on said side of said cleat body,said rigid protrusions being shorter than said flexible protrusions,wherein said flexible protrusions and said rigid protrusions areprovided alternately, whereby said rigid protrusions chiefly supportweight resting on said cleat when said flexible protrusions have bentoutwardly on a hard surface.
 4. A cleat for a golf shoe comprising: acleat body; securing means provided on a first side of said cleat body,said securing means to be detachably secured on a golf shoe sole; aplurality of flexible protrusions provided on a second side of saidcleat body, said flexible protrusions obliquely extending outwardly; anda plurality of rigid protrusions provided on said second side of saidcleat body, said rigid protrusions being shorter than said flexibleprotrusions, wherein said flexible protrusions and said rigidprotrusions are provided alternately, each void created between saidflexible protrusions and said rigid protrusions being sufficiently largeso as to prevent its getting stuffed with mud, whereby said rigidprotrusions chiefly support weight resting on said cleat when saidflexible protrusions have bent outwardly on a hard surface.
 5. A cleataccording to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a centralprotrusion provided on said cleat body to assist said rigid protrusionsin supporting weight resting on said cleat.
 6. A cleat according toclaim 3 or 4, wherein each of said rigid protrusions is provided with athrough groove on the free end portion thereof.
 7. A plastic cleat for agolf shoe comprising: a cleat body; securing means provided on a firstside of said cleat body, said securing means to be detachably secured ona golf shoe sole; a plurality of flexible protrusions provided on asecond side of said cleat body, said flexible protrusions obliquelyextending outwardly; and a plurality of rigid protrusions provided onsaid second side of said cleat body, said rigid protrusions beingshorter than said flexible protrusions, wherein said flexibleprotrusions and said rigid protrusions are provided alternately, wherebysaid rigid protrusions chiefly support weight resting on said cleat whensaid flexible protrusions have bent outwardly on a hard surface, whereinthe oblique outward projection of said flexible protrusions from saidcleat body is restricted within a limit which facilitates utilization offorced extraction molding.
 8. A plastic cleat for a golf shoecomprising: a cleat body; securing means provided on a first side ofsaid cleat body, said securing means to be detachably secured on a golfshoe sole; a plurality of flexible protrusions provided on a second sideof said cleat body, said flexible protrusions obliquely extendingoutwardly; and a plurality of rigid protrusions provided on said secondside of said cleat body, said rigid protrusions being shorter than saidflexible protrusions, wherein said flexible protrusions and said rigidprotrusions are provided alternately, whereby said rigid protrusionschiefly support weight resting on said cleat when said flexibleprotrusions have bent outwardly on a hard surface, wherein the obliqueoutward projection of said flexible protrusions from said cleat body isrestricted within a limit which facilitates utilization of forcedextraction molding, assisted by voids created between said flexibleprotrusions and said rigid protrusions.
 9. A method for producing aplastic cleat for a golf shoe, comprising: preparing a mold having anextraction opening for a plastic cleat which comprises a cleat body,securing means provided on a first side of said cleat body, a pluralityof flexible protrusions provided on a second side of said cleat body,said flexible protrusions obliquely extending outwardly, and a pluralityof rigid protrusions provided on said second side of said cleat body,said rigid protrusions being shorter than said flexible protrusions,said flexible protrusions and said rigid protrusions being providedalternately, wherein said extraction opening is narrower than the widestportion of said cleat; injecting a plastic material into said mold, andletting the plastic material half harden in said mold; forcedlyextracting the half hardened material from said mold through saidextraction opening before said material gets completely hardened withinsaid mold; and leaving the extracted material to rebound to the designedcleat shape outside said mold.